By Punkerslut
A Challenge to the Churches
By Punkerslut
I offer a challenge to the churches... I challenge that theyrelease their mentality, that they must deal with matters whollysupernatural, and that they offer knowledge with actualrelevance to the physical world. That I may go into a churchwithout hearing talk of how the gods see us, what we must do tosave our souls, or the thoughts which the immortals have at themoment, to avoid hearing such manifestations of superstition, isone of my challenges to the churches. That they may offerguidance to people in matters of their lives and how they live,instead of condemning and praising, instead of preachery andoratory -- I challenge that the churches serve the people inways that help the people. That they base their foundation inoffering moral support of the people, that they may live andwork in a way that benefits themselves and their community inthe greatest manner. To have services that conform to the needsof the people, instead of trying to conform the people to somedivine mandate beyond the reach of any mortal; to hold thebelief that a person's innate nature can never be their ownblame; to hold the belief that individuals must travel their ownpath in life to achieve the happiness they desire -- tounderstand that a person is not just another two needs bent on apew, this is what I desire of the church.
I challenge that the churches offer sympathy and kindliness toall people, whether they worships a different god, many gods, orno god at all. Had I been given power to write the constitutionof the hearts of the clergy, I would have the first articledictate that all men are their brothers, that there is no crimethat can be committed that would grant them a writ of cruelty tothe criminal, that they will close their doors to no man, denyrefuge to no soul, hold in contempt any spirit that reachestowards the sanctuary of the inner heart, and the result ofinner peace. A man can believe in whatever he wishes, whateverinsane ideologies or obscure myths, and he may refer to my owndedicated beliefs in the same manner: they will say it isridiculous to refrain from eating meat, they will claim it is anabsurdity to deny the existence of god, they will state that sexoutside of a committed relationship is outlandish. Their opinionis their own, and they have a right to it. Whatever that opinionis, it must be understand that this opinion is held by a person-- it is held by a conscious being, one that is not unknown tothe torments of misery, one that is not beyond the understandingof happiness, one that knows and feels conflict and suffering,joy and ecstacy. I have known many Christian men who have saidthat if you take away the beliefs of a man, you have nothingleft! Such a creed is founded on the unconventional orthodoxy ofreligion. I say this: that a person is a person, and no matterwhat beliefs they have formed about the universe, that theyshould form them by their own mind's inquiry and investigation,and that no matter what conclusions they come to, they are to beregarded in a manner that takes into consideration that they arestill persons, capable of emotion, just as much as any person. Iwould have this: that the churches accept and honor every manand woman, regardless of their beliefs.
If a person were to sit in the pews of a church and listen tothe sermon, for every one hundred words spoken on religion andmatters of the unseen, they will hear one word on how to treattheir fellow men like their brothers. For every one thousandtimes the preacher touches upon the topic of how we must respectour father who resides in heaven, he will touch upon once theobligation that we have to respect our brothers and sisters --our family of humanity -- who reside on this planet. There areten less times that a preacher will speak on behalf of those whoare mortal than those who are immortal, and one hundred fewertimes a preacher will claim our duty to the unseen than to theliving and breathing mass of creatures on this planet. I makethis challenge to the churches: that instead of being burdens onthe community, to become a benefit to their lives. Instead ofexerting their energy in such a directionless manner as todemand prayer, do not demand anything; instead, only make pleaswith them that they are humane in all their dealings with theirfellow men, that they do not destroy the lives of those aroundthem, that to plant flowers of joy on this planet is thegreatest of duties. Churches, if you have one humane sentiment,then express it with every manner you have at disposal! That ismy challenge to the churches: that they place more emphasis onbeing humane than being religious.
In travelling the United States, my friends and I have seenmany glorious churches and temples, but we all confess thatthere is nothing so enchanting to our soul than that of thecathedral of nature. For every dollar the church puts towardsits architectural impressiveness, I challenge that they put tendollars to feeding the hungry and housing the homeless, thattheir deeds should impress my heart rather than their buildingssicken my mind. Instead of purchasing another stone, that theheight of the tallest church may be increased by just one foot,I challenge the church and all the clergy, that the money goesto buying ten meals, that the unfortunate, neglected, andabandoned may have food for today. Without filling their pocketswith the coin of pew-fillers, I challenge the church to reachout to every downtrodden individual, to every oppressed mass,and give them the necessities, so that their existence is notwithout aid. I challenge the church to do this: to treat theworld as its cathedral and spread the wealth, and to abandon itscurrent doctrine, that the world is its cemetery, where thingsunwanted are to be placed. Before the sun rises and sets again,over a million will still be yearning for the basic needs oflife, and over a million will be refused. Instead of preachingon the goodness of god, I demand the churches to call upon thegoodness of man, and to show respect and charity to those whohave little to live for in this life. Give them not the Bible,but give them food. Teach not of the divine, but teach withactions. I challenge the churches to help end poverty instead ofexpanding their cathedrals and temples.
The world is emerging from a time where societies have becomeindustrial, where a worker is regarded no more than the cogs inthe machine he runs, where living has been reduced to theeconomy of space. For thousands of years, different forms oftyrannies have slowly been overcome, different revolutions haveoccured in the hearts and minds of men, and slowly asHumanitarian ideals spread, we have struggled to reach theshores of our lives. I challenge the churches this: that noinjustice will be overlooked, that there should be a light forthose who must presside in the dark, that cruelty and malice areforever to be considered a weakness and not a strength, a viceand not a virtue. I challenge the churches to aid the workers ofthe world in their struggle to liberate themselves, to givesupport to Animal Rights and Human Rights activists as they workpatiently for the conclusion of Democracy and liberty, to notask people to reform themselves but to ask them to take part inthe reform of society, and reform themselves only insomuch thata better society may be the result of it. That is my challengeto the churches, no matter what nation they hail from, or whatpeople attend it. Unless this challenge is met and bested, Ionly remain at my conclusion: that a world without churches, isa world with one more virtue.
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